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Posted: 5/5/2026 12:47:27 PM EDT
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I just bought a brand new 10/22 Carbon Fiber Takedown. I have been waiting for Ruger to make something like this for a while, and when I saw them, I picked one up as soon as I could find one. I was attracted to the optic mount that was machined into the rear of the barrel. I have another Takedown with the Magpul optic mount that does essentially the same thing, but the type of red dot you have to use with that mount (and the mount itself) ends up sitting pretty high. I plan on putting an RMR on the new one and like the idea of a lower profile dot on that gun. The carbon and special finished backpacker stock is just icing on the cake. My goal for this rifle is to make it bomb proof and still keep zero so I can throw it in a bag and not worry about it. I was disappointed to find 2 major problems with the rifle once I got it home. First, the slot cut into the barrel was done out of alignment with the receiver. The mounting surface of the slot is clocked incorrectly and its plane is not parallel with the top of the receiver. It is so drastic that it is easily noticed when looking at it. I called Ruger, and they wanted it back to remedy this issue. It's currently at Ruger and hopefully it comes back straight. The second issue is just a poor design and Ruger is not going to fix it. The design of the optic mount is similar to many handgun mini dot mounts. There is a flat slot machined into the rear of the barrel. An optic plate that accommodates several different footprints is then screwed to the slot in the barrel with 2 small machine screws. The issue is that when the screws are just barely loose, there is a lot of play (.030" in all directions) in the plate. The only thing holding the plate in zero is the tension of 2 very small machine screws. I feel like it wouldn't take much of a bump on the red dot to throw it out of zero considering this setup. I have thought of several solutions, but have kinda settled on one. I want to run it by the hive mind to see if it will work, and also if there is a solution I haven't thought of that may be better. What I think I will do is first, bed the optic plate in the center of its movement. Once the bedding is done, I will properly tighten the 2 mounting screws. I will then drill 2 holes through the plate and into the barrel in a location that will not be close to the bore. I will tap that hole, and install set screws essentially pinning the plate to the barrel. I can then mount the RMR securely. What do you all think? The bit/tap combo I was thinking of using is a #47 drill and a 3-48 tap. I don't have a mill, but I do have a decent drill press and vise that I think would be ok if I go slow and am very careful. Am I crazy for trying this on my own or choosing this method? |
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That is a tiny screw size and tap. Probably ok on a .22, just the factory ones might be enough. I did similar on my 45/70. It sheared the factory rail screws under recoil. Got the sheared ones out. Drilled my new holes in the rail. Remount the rail and marked the receiver for the new, 8/32 screws. Pulled the rail, drilled and tapped the new holes. It fit! Did the drilling on a press, hand tapped the holes. Broke one tap. Have extra taps the small one will break easy. I used tap magic lube, but the magic was going slow and backing out the tap often. Lots of lube. |
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